Two new funds were announced today to help support production and skills development in the Scottish film industry. Animation and high end TV projects will also be eligible to apply for support from the £2M Tax Credit Loan Fund, which will enable Scottish producers to make use of tax credits earlier than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK, while the £1M Screen Sector Skills Fund is aimed at existing industry professionals and at young people keen to embark on careers in film.
"Scotland is already widely recognised for our world-class talent, crews, facilities and breath-taking locations, and the Scottish Government and its agencies are committed to working together to continue to create the conditions that enable our screen sector to flourish," said Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs. "The Scottish Government recognises and values the vision and the ambition of Scotland’s screen sector and we are determined to help it to thrive – and the funds I am announcing today will do this, addressing two pressing needs of the industry."
She added that her government recognises the need for greater resources in the sector and will continue to work toward this in partnership with other agencies.
The new funds will be administered by Creative Scotland, whose Director of Film & Media, Natalie Usher, said "We very much welcome this new funding support for production and skills development, helping to address some of the priorities as set out in our Film Strategy, published last year. We will continue to work closely with the sector and with our public agency partners to create the conditions for a sustainable and thriving screen industry in Scotland."
